LB Joe Schobert named to first Pro Bowl

2nd-year LB was tied for 1st in the NFL in tackles

The second-year Browns linebacker was added to the Pro Bowl roster Tuesday. Schobert, who was originally tabbed as a first alternate, takes the place of Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, who was placed on injured reserve in December after suffering a serious back injury.

Schobert’s breakout season started with a position switch, as the former outside linebacker moved to the middle during OTAs. A season-ending injury to veteran Tank Carder paved the way to a starting role, and Schobert capitalized on the opportunity. The former fourth-round pick never missed a snap and finished with a team-high 144 tackles, a total that was tied for the most in the NFL. Schobert is the first Browns linebacker to make the Pro Bowl since Jamir Miller in 2002.

“I think I definitely made strides during the season, it was my first time playing middle linebacker since youth football,” he said. “So it’s definitely different keys, different reads and stuff like that and I think I got more comfortable as the season went along. There’s a lot of stuff to learn from and go from, there's still a lot of room to improve."

Schobert’s Pro Bowl nod preserves Cleveland’s streak of landing at least one player in the annual all-star game since 2007. Offensive guard Joel Bitonio was named a second alternate in December.